Shapes and Patterns - Primary 1

In this chapter on shapes and patterns, students learn about: 

• shapes (triangle, circle, square, rectangle)
• sides and corners
• sorting of figures (e.g. shape, size, colours, number of sides, etc.)
• making objects with triangle, circle, square and rectangle
• copying figures using grid or dot graph paper
• patterns

Shapes

In primary one, students learn the 4 basic shapes - triangles, squares, rectangles, and circles.

Shapes	Number of sides	Number of corners
□	4	4
▭	4	4
△	3	3
◯	round (no sides)	round (no sides)

 

Sort

There are many ways of sorting shapes. What are some ways you can think of? Shape, colour, size and so on.

These figures are sorted by their shape.

These figures are sorted according to their size. The one on the left are big, while those on the right are small.

These figures are sorted according to their colour. The shapes on the left are red while the shapes on the right are blue.

Making objects with shapes 

A figure can be broken down into smaller shapes. We can draw a few lines in a basic shape, and break it into other shapes. 

For instance, a rectangle can be broken down into 2 triangles.

A circle can be cut along its diameter to form 2 semi circles (also known as half circles)

a circle can be cut into 2 semi circles

If we divide a circle equally into 4 parts, we will have 4 quarter circles or quadrants.

Breaking down a circle into 4 quadrants or quarter circles

Copying a pattern using grids or dots graph paper

In this chapter, students are also expected to be able to copy a pattern using grids or dots graph paper. 

Below is an example of a question involving copying a pattern using dots graph paper.

Copy the figure on the left using the blank dot graph paper on the right.

Students are also expected to do the same using grids graph paper.

Copy the figure on the left using the blank grid graph paper on the right.

To complete such questions, go from corner to corner:

Step 1: Choose one corner to start with.

Step 2: Count the number of steps up, down, left and/or right to go to the next corner

Step 3: Repeat step 2 until the entire diagram is completed.

Patterns

The last part of the chapter involve identifying patterns. For primary one, the patterns are usually AB type, ABB type, AAB type or ABC type.

Example of an AB type pattern - where the pattern repeats itself after the 2nd one:

□◯□◯□◯

Example of an AAB type of pattern:

□□◯□□◯□□◯

In an AAB pattern, the pattern repeats itself after the 3rd one, and the 1st and 2nd items in the pattern are the same. 

Example of an ABB type of pattern:

□◯◯□◯◯□◯◯

In an ABB pattern, the pattern repeats itself after the 3rd one, and the 2nd and 3rd items in the pattern are the same. 

Example of an ABC type of pattern:

△□◯△□◯△□◯

In an ABC pattern, the pattern repeats itself after the 3rd one. All three items in the repeating pattern are different.